Metered Access

Crain's Detroit Business is a metered site. Print and digital subscribers have unlimited access to stories, but registered users are limited to eight stories every 30 days. After viewing three metered stories, you'll be asked to register or log in. After eight more stories in 30 days, you'll be asked to subscribe.

Tigers sign Jose Iglesias to 1-year deal

The Detroit Tigers today said they have signed slick-fielding young shortstop Jose Iglesias to a one-year deal — apparently at a discount.

The team didn't disclose financial details, but New York Post baseball columnist Joel Sherman reported that the contract is worth $1.65 million.

Iglesias, 24, last season was paid $2 million in the final year of a four-year, $8.25 million contract he signed with the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 2009 (after he had defected in Canada from Cuba's national team).

The past salary information comes from BaseballProspectus.com, a regular source of contract details used by baseball media.

Under baseball's rules, Iglesias remains under the Tigers' control until 2018 and won't be eligible for salary arbitration until 2015-16, according to MLB.com.

A player with three or more years in the majors, but less than six years, is eligible for salary arbitration. A team can opt to sign a player to a long-term deal at any point, but that doesn't typically happen until a player is arbitration eligible.

Baseball's minimum salary in 2014 is $500,000.

Boston traded Iglesias on July 30 to Detroit in a three-team deal that saw the Tigers send outfielder Avisail Garcia to the Chicago White Sox and reliever Brayan Villarreal to the Red Sox. Boston got starter Jake Peavy from Chicago.

Detroit paid the pro-rated remainder of Iglesias' contract in 2013.

In 46 games with the Tigers, he hit .259 with two home runs and 10 RBI. He had hit .330 in 63 games with the Red Sox, but the Tigers picked up Iglesias for his outstanding glove work at shortstop after starter Jhonny Peralta was lost to a 50-game suspension linked to performance-enhancing drugs.

Iglesias, who kept the job after Peralta returned for the playoffs, finished second to Tampa outfielder Wil Myers in American League Rookie of the Year balloting.